Special School Support Assistant

Special School Support Assistant – Secondary (Southampton)

Prospero Teaching is seeking calm, patient, and resilient Special School Support Assistants to join a specialist secondary school in Southampton. The school supports young people aged 11-16 with a wide range of complex learning difficulties, including autism, sensory processing differences, communication needs, cognitive learning disabilities, and additional barriers that impact engagement and emotional regulation.

The school also welcomes applications from ad‑hoc supply staff who are available for day‑to‑day, short‑term, or long‑term cover-ideal for those looking for flexible, varied work within a nurturing SEN environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing tailored support to pupils with autism, sensory processing needs, communication difficulties, or complex learning profiles
• Supporting young people who may experience anxiety, emotional dysregulation, sensory overload, or challenges with transitions, routines, and social situations
• Encouraging engagement through practical, creative, therapeutic, and differentiated learning activities suited to secondary‑age learners
• Promoting emotional wellbeing, safety, and positive behaviour throughout the school day
• Supporting pupils with communication, emotional regulation, social understanding, and developing independence and life skills
• Building trusting, stable relationships using calm, clear, and consistent communication
• Working collaboratively with teachers, therapists, pastoral teams, and external professionals to ensure holistic, person‑centred support

Contract Details

• Location: Southampton
• Position: Special School Support Assistant
• Start Date: ASAP
• Contract Type: Full‑time with temp‑to‑perm pathways available; ad‑hoc supply opportunities also offered
• Working Hours: 08:45am – 15:15pm
• Pay Rate: From £14.96 per hour

Requirements

You must:

• Have the Right to Work in the UK
• Hold an enhanced child‑barred list DBS on the Update Service (or be willing to apply)
• Provide professional references covering the last 24 months
• Hold a Level 2/3 qualification in childcare, education, or health & social care, or have relevant SEN experience supporting young people with complex needs

What We Offer

• Free accredited CPD, including safeguarding, behaviour management, and de‑escalation
• Access to our specialist in‑house Training & Development Team
• Ongoing support from a dedicated SEN consultant
• A warm, inclusive secondary school environment with strong staff culture and opportunities for progression

Refer a Friend

Know someone who would thrive in a specialist SEN setting? Earn a referral bonus for every successful recommendation through our Refer a Friend scheme (T&Cs apply).

If you’re interested, please send an up‑to‑date copy of your CV for consideration.

Please note, due to high volume of responses, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Proud to be listed in the Times as one of ‘The Best Companies To Work For’, Prospero Teaching is an innovative and forward-thinking recruitment agency. With over two decades of experience, our education consultants work hard to find you the most suitable role, from a wide range of teaching jobs across the UK, in thousands of excellent schools, academies, and nurseries. We are an APSCO-audited education agency, and our awards for excellence demonstrate our commitment to high-quality service and best practice.